Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-08
RUINED BY THE PRESS.
Tales of Reporters Seriously incom-
mode Some Congressman.

mode Some congressman.
From the Ne,o York Herald.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-When Senator
Tom Bowen. OF Colorado, leaned back in
his seat and laughed uproariously this
morning half dozen Of his staid and Dig
nified associates crowded about him to
learn the cause OF his merriment.
Here is letter." said he, unfolding
the dainty little missive he held IN MS
hand, from lady in Oswego. NY. She
writes that she has heard of my great sue
cess as poker player; that L sometimes
win as much as $1,000 at sitting, and
while all this is very reprehensible, still,
if | will contribute 1900 of 1t to beneVo-
lent society OF which she is president, the
Lord will probably condone my SIN
full ways and enable me to enjoy the
rest OF my winnings in peace and happl-
ness"
GAS matter of fact" continued tn e
Senator, refectively. "this letter is only
a fair sample OF others l receive daily.
The newspaper correspondents nave
written so much about my luck at poker
that a certain class or people throughout
the country honestly believe l ought TO
share a certain percentage OF 1t with
them. think the best thing L can do
will be to kill off a few newspaper men to
begin with"
But you DO play poker, don't your?
inquired Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts,
seriously.
"N0 | don't" was the sharp reply. 81
haven't touched card In twenty years"
Senator Bowen's experience is identl-
cal with mat of every pubic man whose
good luck or wealth or generosity is COM
mented upon by the newspapers.
SENATOR sTANFORD'S WOES.
Senator Stanford,o of California, has prob
ably as intelligent an appreciation OF this
fact as any living American. He is enOr-
mously wealthy, and his public and pri-
vate charities run up in the hundreds Of
thousands OF dollars annually. NOtwith-
standing this fact be stubb0rnly refuses
to contribute dollar to the genteel men-
dicauts who beseech him in person and
by correspondence for temporary loans.
The begging letters are incontinently
pitched into the waste-basket, while those
who apply in person are seldom, il ever,
permitted the privilege of an interview.
Before seeing the Senator they are re-
uuired to state their business TO an unrO-
mantle and unsentimental private secre-
tary, who curtly replies that tue Senator
does not wish to see them, and then sends
them about their business. A recent
publication that Senator stanford pro-
posed building 100000 yacht, In order
10 JCSb IuS correctness vi Il new uCHI1u III
marine architecture, has given the Sena-
tor no end of trouble.
The item, it seems, was printed under
a misapprehension. 1t was not Senator
Stanford who was philanthrOpio enough
to risk so large a sum for this purpose,
but another gentleman OF wealth who
also occupies seat in the Senatorial
body. But the denial, as is usually the
case, never overlook the original story,
| 81. thot AIy,no fh0 ntOv. hoc haan
delu0ed with letters from impecunious
inventors from every hole and corner OF
the civilized world. They offer improve
| ments in boilers. rudders, engines and
| almost every conceivable article connect
| ed with the mechanism OF ship. One
| enthusiastic Englishmau, who failed to
receive reply from Senator Stanford.
surprised that gentleman by coming over
| to America last week ana SesentiDg him
self at the Stanford residence with a
portfolio filed with drawings of his latest
| designs In steam vessels. He was very
| indignant when he discovered that Sena-
tor Stanford disclaimed all intention of
engaging in such work.
MRS. STANFORD ALSO VICTIM.
Mrs. Stanford has her troubles with
| this class of people no less than her hus-
band. Not great while ago lady CIV
ing her address as Rochester, n. Y, wrol e
Mrs. Stanford that inasmuch as she Mrs.
| Stanford) was now in mourning she
could not maze better use of her ball
dresses and gowns of a similar descrip-
ton than by sending them to her.
| 81 belong" she continued, ito that
! genteelly poor class who are compelled
to present an appearance out OF all pro-
| portion to their limited income. By COM
| plying even partially with my request,
| you will greatly Oblige."
Another means OF securing assistance
! from Mrs. Stanford is placticed quite eX-
| tenslvely by the widows of deceased army
and navy officers. This is to secure an
| audience and request an advance of
| money on the dear husbands sword or
| uniform or some other unnecessary artl-
Gle belonging to his effects. The simple
announcement that such things are use
| less to her is usually followed by a food
or tears and the recital of some well worn
! story of poverty and misfortune. In such
| cases the visitor IS made present of a
few dollars. and the servants are notified
that to that person, in future, Mrs. Stan =
| ford is not at home.
! FRANK LAWLER AND THE FURIEs
The Hon. Frank Lawler is also victim
| to newspaper advertising. Some weeks
! ago he printed an authoritative statement
| that in future he would refuse to respond
to the cards of lady callers. Mr.. Lawler
assigned as a reason That the women
habitually ran after him for places under
the government and that, In short, they
had become great bores. MT. Lawler
now confesses that it was an unluckv
day for him when this modest little para
graph found its way into the journalistic
swim. sometimes" said he in a dolor-
Gus tone, 81 receive anonymously as
many as a dozen postals from indignant
! females. One correspondent says:
"'lf you we're the last man in the world
you'd never get me to run after you, you
| cOncelted thing
/ "Another postal, signed "A Young
| Army Widow says:
| al suppose you think every woman who
looks at you is mashed on your shape.
Here's one that wouldn't wipe her feet on
| you.'
"Sometimes again they vary the fun of
abuse by drawing a caricature OF me on
the back OF a postal, picturing me as a
swell in Dundreary whiskers and eye
| glasses, with some ironicai legend under
meath. anu dreading the advent OF 81.
| Valentines Day. know | shall be DEL
uged with comic valentines from the ris-
ing until the setting SUM-" and the hon
orable Lawler sighed mOurntully as he
walked of, declaring that he would
never talk with another newspaper re-
| porter again.